Industrial truck



Dec. 1,1925.

H.. T. PLEINES INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed Dec. 7. 1922 4 S e ts-Sheet 1 Dec. 1,1925- H. T. PLEINES INDUSTRIAL TRUCK Filed D60. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet I2 Dec. 1, 1925- H. T. PLEINES INDUSTRIAL TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec, '1, 1922 l ing the material to pile the same.

adjusted for loads of various sizes.

. Patented Dec.

5. 550" Y N ED STATESPATENTI P ca;

- nnnnr rnrnninns, or cmavnnamiomo,

ASSIGNQR 1'0 THE Lmwoon Batman.

i ING- COITPANY, O1! LAKEWOOD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

I mmrsrnmr. rauox.

Application fled December 7, 1922. Serial no. 605,876.

To all whom z'tmay concern."

Be it known thatI, HENRY T Pnnmns, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland,.in the'county of Cuyaho'ga and 5 State of Ohio, have invented a certain new which are commercially known as industrial.

trucks and is of the type in which the truckmay be used not only-as a liftingtruck-forl transferring loads from one point to another, but also as a tiering truck for elevat a The present invention is 'animprovement over the truck covered by the Pleines Patent No. 1,432,299, granted Oct. 17, 1922.'

An object of the present invention is to provide a self-propelled truck which may be used either as a lifting or as a tiering truck and in which the-load receivin platform can be lowered into contact Wis: the supporting surface so that articles can be taken' up directly from the floor without the use .0

loading skids or platforms.

A further object istoso mount the elevating mechanism upon the truck that the load receiving platform is entirely beyond the end of the truck but is effectively coun-:

terbala'nced by the heavy portions of the truck. I

A further object is to provide a mounting for the load receiving platform which will 335 permit the platform to yield and avoid injury, to the platform should it strike against an obstruction as it is being lowered to the supporting'surface. A further object is-to provide a means for 'var in the angle at which the latform is;

y g I r H supported. 1 v A further object is to provide a'platformso constructed that it can. be readily shoved under an article resting directly on the supporting surface.

A further "object is to provide -in 'connec tion with the load receiving platform', a releasable load retaining member which can be.

A further object is to rovidei a load receivin latform, th e widt of which may be varie or handling dilferent kinds of loads.

Afurther object is to provide an improved control for the. elevating mechanism inwhich the movement of the carriage-may be controlled either by hand or by limit stops engageable with the carriage and which will permit additional movement'to be imparted to the'carriage after'the operation of. a limit SUE.

ther objects will beapparent from the following description in connection -with the accompanying drawin Reference should bihad specification in which Fig. 1 is a side elevato the faccom H panying drawing forming a part of this 7 tion of the improved truck; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section through the lower rear portion of the truck; Fig. 3 is a section on line 33-of Fig. 2; Fi 4 is a perspective view of the truck with t e plat orm in an elevated position; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective showing the platform in lower:

most position; Fig. 6 is a perspective'view showing a modified platform structure; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing 'a detachable cover plate secured in place upon the platformtines; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the guide, standard above the body of the truck showing a planview' of the truck and platform; Figs. 9 and 10 are end and side elevations respectively of the controller for the elevating motor.

Referring 'to: the accompanying drawings, the truck has a main ,U-shaped frame 1 formed from a channel bar, the flanges of which project outwardly, the main frame 1 being supported by wheels 2 which are power I driven and. ivoted to swing about a vertical axisto gui e the truck as is common in the art. The closed end of the U-frame 1 is-at the front of the truck over the suporting' wheels 2 and has mounted thereon a housing 3 within which are mounted the driving motor for'the truck and the storage battery.

The ends of the U-frame 1 are bent inwardly,

at'tlie open rear end of the frame and a I guide standard 4 is secured within the open end of the frame. The I comprises vertical channel iron posts 5 which are securedwithin the ends of the frame I with their flangesextending inwardly; The

posts 5-are bracedby means of gusset lates 6 at their point of connection. with the rame 1 and also by means of horizontal rails 7 guidev standard 4' connected to the upper portion of the bolls ing 3 and to the osts 5 and inclined braces 8* extending from t e front endoftlie housing I points 35 so that" they can be readily 3 to adjacent the upper ends of the posts 5. The lower ends of the posts 5 pro ect beneath the main frame 1 and are rigidly secured to an auxiliary U-frame 9 formed of channel iron and having its open end toward the rear. The auxiliary frame 9 is braced by gusset plates 10 secured thereto and has bearing brackets 11 secured to the rear end thereof. An axle 12 carrying small supporting wheels 13 is journaled at its ends in the bearing brackets 11. The truck has the usual operators platform 14 at the front end thereof, above which are mounted the steering, motor control and brake levers 15, 16 and 17 respectively, by means of which the movements of the truck are controlled. Two vertical screws 18 are journaled in thrust hearings in the lower crossbar 19 of the standard 4 and at their upper ends in suitable bearings carried by a platform 20 supported by gusset plates 21 from the posts 5 of the guide standard. The platform 29 sup orts a motor 22 which drives the screws 18 t ough worm gearing in the housing 23 at the upper ends of the screws. A. carriage 24 is mounted for vertical movement upon the guide standard 4 and is connected by pivot hangers 25 to nuts 26 in threaded engagement with the vertical screws 18. The carriage 24 is positioned between the posts 5 of the guide standard and the portion thereof between the posts 5 is inclined upwardly toward the front of the truckand carries upon opposite sides thereof flanged wheels 27 and 28 which travel upon the front and rear faces respectively of the posts 5. The carriage 25 has integral arms 29 extending rearwardly therefrom and terminating directly over the rear supporting wheels 13 of thetruck? The load carrying member indicated generally by the numeral 30 is supported upon the rearwardly extending arms 29 of the carriage 24. At its front end the load carrying member 30 has an angle plate 31, one of the angular portions of which extends over the tops of the arms 29 and the other angular'portionoi which extends downwardly at the rear of the supporting arms. The angle plate 31- is carried by angle bars 32' which extend alongside the upper portions of the arms29 of the carriage and are connected thereto by means of a horizontal pivot 33. .The depending portion of the angle plate 31 car-f ries the load receiving platform which is in the form of rearwardly extending tines 34 which have upturned rear ends secured to the rear face of the plate 31 and which I when the carriage is in its lowermost posi tion, are adapted to rest upon the floor or other supporting surface over which the truck moves. The tines 34 have beveled shoved under a box,-bale or other article resting upon the floor. The pivotal connecateaeto tion between the carriage and the load carrying member permits the platform to swing upwardly so that the load carrying member will not be injured in case the platform should be lowered upon an article resting upon the floor. In order that the platform may be adjusted angularly, the plate 31 carries set screws 36, the lower ends of which bear upon the upper faces of the arms 29. By means or" the set screws 36, the angle of the platform with respect to the supporting surface can be adjusted somewhat if desired. Upon the horizontal portion of the angle plate '31 are supported upwardly extending brackets 37 which are provided with a vertical row of apertures 38. A block 39 is pivoted between the brackets 37 by means of a pivot pin 40 which may be passed through any one of the apertures 38. The block 39 receives the threadedshank of a forked load engaging member 41 which has downwardly extending prongs 42 at its outer end and carries a hand wheel nut 43 by means of which the member 41 may be adjusted in or out of the block 39. The load engaging member 41 is adapted to be swung to vertical position as shown in Fig. 4 while articles are being loaded upon or taken from the platform. The load retaining member can be adjusted vertically in the brackets 37 to the proper height for engaging the load and may be extended by means of the hand wheel 43 to the proper length for engaging the load adjacent the outer end of the platform. J

In Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing a slightly modified form of load carrying member is shown. 5 ln this modification the angle plate 31 f'is narrower and the depending above described. A pair of outer tines 44 are supported outside the wheels 13 and have brackets 45 fixed to their rear ends which are connected by means of pivots 46 to depending posts 47 which are carried by cross bars 47 secured to the plate 31. The brackets 45 on the tines 44 straddle the posts 47 to which they are pivotally connected so that the rear, ends of the tines 44 bear against the bottoms of the posts 47 and are rigidly held in horizontal position. When desired,,however, the tines 44 can be swung to vertical positionagainst the cross bar 47 and secured in this'po'sition when it is desirable to use the center prongs 34 only.

-Fig. 7 of the drawing shows a cover plate 48 having side flanges 49 which fit against tlieside edges of the center tines 34*. The plate 48 may be used as a loading platform upon which the load is piled and under which the tines 34 maybe inserted to lift the load orgitl may be laced directly: upon thetines 34 and the loa may be then placed thereon.

j A vertically disposed controlling rod 56 is mounted between the housing 3 and the guide standard 4. At its central portion the rod. 50 is pivotally connected to a bell crank lever 51 supported by a bracket on' the rails .7 and connected by means of a connecting rod 52 to, an arm 53 fixed vto thev shaft 54 of acontroller for the motor 22.

The shaft 54 extends through aflcontrol'ler case 55 and carries'upon its opposite end a hand lever- 56 which has a ball ratchet 57 engageable with notches in the face of the controller case 55 to yieldably hold the lever in adjusted position. The upper end of the rod 50 is connected to a trip arm 58 which is pivotally supported upon a fixed part of the frame and has its free end dlsposed 111 the path of one of the rollers 27 of the carriage. The lower end of the rod 52 is pivotally connected to an arm 59 which is pivoted to a bracket 60 upon a fixed part of the frame and has a laterally projecting lug 61.

The trip lever 62 is pivoted at one, end to the bracket 60, extends beneath the lug 61 i on the arms 59 and has itsfree end positioned in the path of one of the carriage wheels 27 adjacent the lower portion ofthe' standard 4. A coil spring '63 is connected the lever56 has been shifted in a direction to cause the load .to be elevated, the operator Y can stopthe motor when the platform has reached the desired height, 0 if he does not stop the motor, one of the wheels 27 will strike the trip lever 58 adjatent the upper end of, the standard, lifting the control lever and shifting the controller to .neutral position, the ball ratchet 57 serving to normally hold the lever 56 in adjusted position but yielding when a strong thrust is exerted. and terminating in a, b g i i l t form adapted to be. lowered into contact onthe lever. When the carriage 24 is moving downwardly it will strike the trip lever 62 'adjacent the lower end of 'the guide" standard and exert a pull through the spring 63 suflicient to move'the controlling rod 50 downwardly and to move the controller to neutral position. -If,'however, theoperator I desires to lower the platform further lie-can pull the lever 56 forwardly andv elevate the 1 rod 50 in opposition to the spring-63, Such movement of the control lever, however, will cause the tension of the spring 6.3- tobe increased softhat upon release of the lever .56 the motor 22 will be instantly stopped.

j This quick return movement enables the,

upBI'BIOI to lower the carriage to exactly the "position he desires when lowering the standard 4is mounted on the truck between the front and rear wheels thereof, the truck forms a stable support for the load carrying member. The front portions of the truck carrying the motor and storage battery act as a counterbalance for the load- -carrying member, but, if necessary additional weights may be placed within the platform to," the floor. Since the 7 guide fixed to the frame toward the rear end thereof, a carrier movable upon said standard and-guided'thereby, said carrier having a rearwardly projecting portion extending downwardly at the rear end of the frame and adapted to straddle the rear supporting wheels, said rearwardly projecting portion terminating in a load receiving platform adapted to be moved into close proximity to the sdpporting surface, and means for raising andlowering the carrier.

Y 2. A truck, comprising a main frame, supand adapted to be lowered at-th rear of said auxiliary frame into close proximity to the *porting wheels therefor, a guide standard supporting surface, means for supporting 1 and guiding said platform upon said standard, and means for raising and lowering said platform. v

3. A truck, comprising a frame, front and rear supporting wheels therefor, an upright guide standard fixed to said frame inter-- mediate said frontand rear wheels, a carrier mounted for movement on said standard and supported thereby, said carrier having rearwardlyand downwardly extending portions overhanging the rear end of the frame vthereby, said carriage having aportion ex tending. rearwardly to the rear end of said frame, a platform secured to said carriage,

said platform having an upturned connect ing portion-depending from the rear end portion of the carrier at the rear of the frame whereby said platform can be lowered substantially to the su o porting surface, and means for rais ng and owering the carri 5. A truck, comprising a frame, front and rear supporting wheels therefor, a vertical guide standard carried by the frame intermediate the front and rear wheels, a carrier mounted for movement on said standard and guided thereby, said carrier having a downwardly offset load receiving platform beyond the rear end of the frame adapted rear, a guide standard secured between the ends of said frame member and projecting beneath the same, an' auxiliary frame, said auxiliary frame being secured to said standard beneath the main frame member, supporting wheels associated with the main frame member, small supporting wheels attached to the auxiliary frame adjacent the standard, a carriage mounted for movement on the standard and through the open rear end of said main frame member, a rearwardly projecting load carrying plat form carried by said carriage, said platform being downwardly offset and adapted to move past the rear end of said auxiliary frame, and means for raising and lowering said carriage.

7. In a truck, a frame having a rear portion which is low lying and adjacent the supporting surface forv the truck, a guide standard supported upon said rear portion of the frame, small supporting wheels connected to said rear portion of the frame, supporting wheels for the front portion of the frame, a load carrying member mounted to move upon said standard and guided thereby, said member having a supporting portion engaging said standard and a load receiving platform .ofi'set downwardly with respect to said supporting portion and lying wholly atthe rear of said rear portion of the frame, and means for raising and lowering said load carrying momber.

8. In a truck, a frame having a rear portion which is low lying and adjacent the supporting surface for the truck, a vertical guide standard supported upon said rear portion of the frame, small supporting wheels connected to said rear portion of the frame at the rear end thereof, supporting wheels for the front portion of the frame, a guide standard fixed to the rear portion of the frame adjacent said small supporting wheels, a load carrier mounted to move upon said standard and guided thereby, said load carrier having a downwardly offset load receiving platform wholly in the rear of said rear wheels, and adapted to be neeac eo lowered behind said wheels into close proximity to the supporting surface, and means for raising and lowering said load carrier.

9. A truck comprising a main frame mem ber, supporting wheels therefor, an auxiliary frame member spaced from said main frame member beneath the same and pro jecting rearwardly beyond the rear end thereof, supporting wheels attached to the rear end of said auxiliary frame member, a guide standard secured to the rear end of saidniain frame member and at its lower end to said auxiliar frame member, a carri-agemovable on said standard to positions above and below said main frame member, a load'receiving platform carried by the carriagefand projecting rearwardly therefrom, said platform having a downwardly offset load receiving portion beyond the rear end of said auxiliary frame, and means for raising and lowering said carriage.

10. A truck, comprising a frame, front and rear supporting wheels therefor, a vertcel standard adjacent the rear end of said frame, a carriage mounted for movement on said standard, a rearwardly extending platform pivotally connected to said carriage to swing vertically, said platform having a load receiving portion otfset downwardly from its pivotal connection with the car riage, and means for raising and lowering said carriage.

11. A truck comprising a frame, front and rear supporting means therefor, a vertical star lard adjacent the rear end of said frame, a carriage mounted for movement on said standard, said carriage having a portion extending rearwardly to the rear end of the frame, a load receiving member having a portion overlying said rearwardly extending portion of the carriage and attached thereto, a portion extending downwardly over the rear end of said carriage and a rea'rwardly projecting load receiving platform, and means for raising and lowering said platform.

12. A motor driven elevating truck, comprising a supporting frame, fropt and rear supporting wheels therefor, a guide standard adjacent the rear end of said truck, a carriage/movable upon said standard, a platforfipivoted to and projecting rearwardly from said carriage and adapted to be lowered into contact with the supporting surface at the rear of said truck and means for raising and lowering said platform.

13. A truck, comprising a supporting frame, front and rear supporting wheels therefor, a guide standard adjacent the rear end of said truck, a carriage movable upon said standard, a platform projecting rearwardly from said carriage and adapted to belowered into contact with the supporting form being yieldably mounted on said cari'ia e, and vmeans for raising and lowering" sai platform.

14;. A truck, h compri'sing' a main frame member, supporting 'wh'eels therefor, a guide 'standard secured to the rear end of the main frame member and-projecting beneath fthe same, anauxiliary frame securedto the lower end of said standard and projecting beyond the rear end of saidmain frame member,'supporting wheels at the rearend of said auxiliary 'frame,a carriage mountedfor movement on said standard to positions above and below said main frame member,

said carriage having aportion extending rearwardly to the end of the auxiliary frame, a load carrying member having a portion overlying said rearwardly extendmg portion of the carriage and pivoted thereto to swing about a horizontal axis, a

portion depending over the rear end of said carnage and a' platform projecting rearwardly from the depending portion, and means for raising and lowering the carriage.

15. In a motor driven truck, the combination with the wheel supported frame, of a guide standard supported forwardly of the rear end, of said frame, acarriage mountedfor movement on said standard, a

load carrying member connected by a horizontal pivot to said carriage, said load carrying member having a portion overhanging the rear end of the truck frame and engageable with the supporting surface, and

means for raising and lowering said carriage. I

16c In a truck, the combination with the wheel supported frame, of a guide standand mounted thereon,'a load carrier mounted for movement on said standard, said carrier having a load receiving platform mov= able from adjacent the-supporting surface -to' elevated positions above the body of the truck, means for raising and lowering said" carrier, means for driving said raising and lowering means, and means for controlling said driving means comprising a shiftable member, a hand lever connected thereto and upper and lower carrier engaging members adapted to shift said shiftable member when said carrier reaches predetermined upperand lower positions, one of said carrier engaging members being yieldable with re-.

spect to said shiftable member whereby additional movement may be imparted vto'the carrier by shifting said hand lever.. V

17. An elevating truck," comprising a wheel supported frame, a guide standard carried thereby, a carriage mounted for movement on the standard, raising and lowering means for said standard, driving means for said raising and lowering means, a shiftable stop. device, a hand lever connected thereto, upper and lower trip arms connected with said stop device and engageable withthe carriage adjacent the upperQ and lower ends-ti the standard, the lower I of said .tri'parmsj having a spring pounce-1 tion with} said stop devicemwhereby said hand lever may be actuatedto impart additional' lowering movement of, said carriage. 18, In an elevating truck, a wheel supthe frame, a rearwardly: extending load gaging member 'having a depending logd heights above theplatform 19. In an elevatmg truck, a wheel supported frame", a-; guide standard carried by supporting platform supported for vertical movement from said standard, a load onengagmgportion at its outer end, and means *for pivotally securing theinnerend of said a member adjacent the standard at various 7 porting frame, a guide standardcarried by the frame, a rearwardly extending plat-- form supported for vertical movement from having a guide standard adjacent lts'rearend and a carriage mounted for movement on said standard and guided thereby, of a load carrying member secured to said cardriven elevating truck, the

riage, said load carrying member having a portion overhanging the rear end of the frame when the carriage is in lowermost osition and a rearwardlyextendmg platorm extendingrearwardly from said overl portion, said platform being en- 3 with the supporting. surfaceand 71 hangin gageabfia comprising spaced tines having tapered 1 ends to facilitate the entry thereof beneath articles on the supporting surface.

wheel supported frame having a guide standard adjacent the rear end thereof, of a. carriage mounted for movement on said standard, said carriage having a portion ex-if tendin rearwardly to adjacent the rear end of sai frame, a load carryingmember connected at its front end by a horizontal pivot to said carriage adjacent the standard,- said.

load carrying member .havin a portion overlying he rearwardly exten in portion ofthe carriage, a .POItIOD dBPBD ing vover the rear end of said. carriage, and a load receiving platform extending rearwardly 21. In a truck, the combination with] a from said depending portion, and adjust?- able means acting between said carriage and overlying portion of the loadcarrying memher to varythe angle'at which said. platform is supported.

22. In a truck,- the combination 'with a wheel supported frame having .a guide standard adjacent its rear end, of a load carrying member supported and guided for vertical movement from said standard, said member having a portion at the rear or the standard adapted to overhang the rear of said frame, and a rearwardly extending platform at the lower end of said overhanging portion, said platform comprising a series of spaced tines certain of said tines being connected to the overhanging portion by means of horizontal pivots and foldable to upright position against said overhanging portion.

23. In a truck, the combination with a wheel supported frame having a guide.

aaeaeao prising a series of spaced tines, the outer of said tines beingpivotally connected to the overhanging portion and foldable to upright position against said overhanging portion.

24. In a truck, the combination with a wheel supported frame having a guide standard adjacent its rear end, of a load carrying member supported from said standard and guided thereby for vertical movement from adjacent the supporting surface to an elevated position above said frame, said load carrying member having a downwardly ofiset load receiving platform adapted to be moved into engagement with the supporting surface at the rear of the truck, said platform comprising spaced tines and a cover plate adapted to be detachably secured to the tines. In testimony whereof, I hereunto afix my signature.

miner r. rnnrnns. 

